Reliance Communications partners with WhatsApp in India, offers unlimited WhatsApp at Rs 16/month

Reliance Communications has entered into a partnership with instant messenger WhatsApp in India, to provide unlimited usage of WhatsApp (and Facebook) to its subscribers across the country. Reliance has also launched two prepaid plans called  'WhatsApp Plan' for all Reliance GSM subscribers and 'My College Plan' that is targeted at students.

The WhatsApp Plan offers unlimited access of the instant messaging service to all prepaid Reliance GSM customers in the country for Rs 16 per month, without paying any extra data consumption charges. Additionally, Facebook is bundled complimentary in this pack (for a limited period), making the usage of WhatsApp and Facebook free on the Reliance network. The plan is available with a validity period of 30 days (from the date of recharge) and the plan is auto-renewed every 30 days unless unsubscribed.

Reliance GSM subscribers can subscribe to the WhatsApp Plan by sending a SMS 'WA or 'WhatsApp to 53739 from their mobiles.

My College Plan offers unlimited social media access of WhatsApp to college students across the country for just Rs 16 per month. The plan also allows them to call and SMS (within their specified group) at just five paise and enables them to broadcast a SMS to the entire group for just Rs 3 by texting the message to 51112. The plan comes with a validity period of 30 days and like the WhatsApp Plan, is auto-renewed every 30 days unless unsubscribed.

The plan is available with SMS-based recharge and applicable to most of the colleges across the country. Students can subscribe to the plan by sending a SMS SUB <college ID> to 51111 from their Reliance numbers. To get their college IDs, students will have to visit the official website of Reliance Communications. Note that students can be a part of only one college group at a time and will be charged for any data consumed by browsing external links from Facebook.

Brian Acton, co-founder WhatsApp said, "With the rapid growth of smartphones in India, we are delighted to partner with Reliance Communications. We are currently working with industry leaders across countries and this exclusive partnership will enable millions of Reliance customers to experience WhatsApp."

(Edited by Prem Udayabhanu)